Economy & Work

Although most Americans back a higher minimum wage, wide disparities in local living costs make finding an appropriate rate difficult.

Around six-in-ten U.S. adults say the nation’s economic system unfairly favors powerful interests, though partisans are divided. Partisan differences extend to beliefs about why people are rich or poor.

The U.S. public is about evenly split on whether the U.S. economic system is more secure today than it was before the financial crisis. Republicans are now more likely to view the system as more secure.

People in advanced and emerging economies generally agree that growing trade and business ties with other nations are good for their country, but fewer are convinced such ties lead to more jobs, higher wages or lower prices at home.

While women are still underrepresented in top corporate jobs, there has been a small increase in the share of women executives in such positions over the past decade.

A large majority of U.S. adults say it is essential for today’s business leaders to create a safe and respectful workplace. Many think female leaders are better equipped to do this than men.

Men and women in America generally agree on many of the qualities and competencies they see as essential for political and business leaders to have. But there are notable differences in the importance they ascribe to some of those qualities.

A majority of Americans would like to see more women in top leadership positions in business and politics, but many are skeptical there will ever be gender parity in these areas. Views about the state of female leadership vary by party and gender.

The improvement in the public’s economic mood has been dramatic in some nations, but pessimism about the future lingers, as does a sense that economic conditions were better pre-crisis.

Average citizens around the world see a technological revolution coming in the workplace, and they are concerned. Many fear robots and computers will eliminate jobs and increase inequality.